National

Minister says dozens of firefighters from Alberta and B.C. to deploy in California

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Jan, 2025 11:07 AM

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says dozens of firefighters from Alberta and British Columbia will help fight wildfires in California, and the federal government is co-ordinating efforts with the provinces to deploy resources.

Sajjan says in a social media post that 60 firefighters from the two provinces will be deployed as soon as Monday, and that Canadian officials are working to identify and prepare more resources to send in the days ahead.

Neighbours helping neighbours 🇨🇦🇺🇸 https://t.co/i9PFngotBE
— Harjit Sajjan (@HarjitSajjan) January 13, 2025

He says in the post that, "Our American friends have asked for help to fight the wildfires in California and Team Canada is responding," and he concludes with, "Neighbours helping neighbours."

A spokeswoman for Sajjan confirms in an email that Canada has received and approved an official request for help.

We’ve got your back, California. pic.twitter.com/jRuHe68jPL
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 13, 2025

Alberta announced last week that it is sending up to 40 wildland firefighters with more personnel, waterbombers and contracted night-vision helicopters ready to deploy.

B.C.’s forests minister, meanwhile, has said a crew from the province’s wildfire service left for California on Saturday afternoon to help battle the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.

Quebec said Friday it will send two more firefighting aircraft to California, a day after one of the province’s water bombers collided with a drone while battling the wildfires. The Canadian-made CL-415 was one of the province's two planes that was already helping in the wildfire.

Their crews are sent to California every fall as part of an annual contract that has been in place for more than 30 years.

The massive fires have killed at least 24 people as of Sunday afternoon and 150,000 people in Los Angeles County are under evacuation orders.

Alberta's Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said on social media on Saturday that the 40 firefighters from Alberta are a "trained and experienced" crew of Type 1 wildland firefighters.

"I have spoken directly to Cal Fire and to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to assure them that Alberta is prepared to support them in their ongoing efforts," Loewen said in his post.

Loewen said additional Type 1 firefighters, incident command personnel, and qualified support staff are ready to go, if requested.

He added that Alberta is also preparing its water bombers, pilots, and contracted night vision helicopters to assist in California.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Emissions in Canada fell last year, though still far off Paris targets

For the first time since the pandemic, Canada had a year-over-year decline in its greenhouse gas emissions — though it is still a long way off its 2030 target. A preliminary emissions report Thursday from the federal government shows greenhouse gases emitted in 2023 fell by six million tonnes compared to 2022, the equivalent to what about 1.4 million passenger vehicles emit over the course of a year.

Emissions in Canada fell last year, though still far off Paris targets

Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna sold to the city

A former Hells Angels clubhouse that was seized by the British Columbia government in 2023 after years of fighting in court has been sold to the City of Kelowna. A statement from Public Safety Minister Garry Begg says the sale of the home in Kelowna includes a "right of entry," which means the province's civil forfeiture office can take the property back if it is ever acquired and used for organized crime in the future.

Forfeited Hells Angels clubhouse in Kelowna sold to the city

Dozens get sick with 'norovirus-like' illness after eating raw B.C. oysters

Health officials in British Columbia say at least 64 people have become sick after eating raw oysters from restaurants and retail locations. A statement from the BC Centre for Disease Control and the provincial health authority says the "norovirus-like" gastrointestinal illnesses have been reported since Nov. 1 in the Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Island Health regions.

Dozens get sick with 'norovirus-like' illness after eating raw B.C. oysters

Vancouver Police Union criticizes assault case's handling after officer's suicide

The president of the Vancouver Police Union has criticized the handling of a sexual assault case that ended in the suicide of a Central Saanich Police officer. Ralph Kaisers says in a letter to members that was obtained by The Canadian Press that the "tragic loss" of the officer came after public statements that risked "undermining the presumption of innocence."

Vancouver Police Union criticizes assault case's handling after officer's suicide

Attempted murder charges for woman who tried to drive car with kids into B.C. river

Police in Delta say a woman has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to drive a car carrying two young children into the Fraser River last month. Delta police say officers had responded to an incident on Nov. 29 on River Road where they found a car stuck on the foreshore of the river.

Attempted murder charges for woman who tried to drive car with kids into B.C. river

Latest B.C. storm brings 140 km/h gusts to Vancouver Island amid wind, snow warnings

Winds approaching 140 km/h have been hitting Vancouver Island weather stations after Environment Canada issued the latest in a series of wind warnings for the B.C. coast. It says the warnings cover exposed coastal sections of the island's north and B.C.'s central coast, with a Pacific frontal system approaching.